Do you want to connect with your readers on a deeper level than displays and general book lists? Do you find yourself experiencing the patron-asks-for-reading-suggestion-and-mind-goes-blank phenomenon during a readers’ advisory interview? Form-based readers’ advisory might be the answer. By using a form-based approach to Readers' Advisory, librarians can develop RA services that are more efficient and more responsive to patrons' needs. In this eCourse, you’ll go in depth and learn all about this exciting RA model, from start (getting administrative and staff buy-in) to finish (building forms and training staff members).

Learning outcomes

After participating in this eCourse, students will be able to:

identify challenges of traditional RA;

describe benefits of form-based RA;

understand how to assess your library’s capacity for this service and garner support from library leadership;

describe the key elements of an effective RA form;

understand the terms readers use when describing what they enjoy reading;

describe the competencies of an effective RA team member;

list RA resources available to assist in development of guides;

identify important aspects of personalized reading guides;

consider a variety of special situations and issues that may arise when offering a form-based RA service.

eCourse outlineWeek 1: History of Form-Based RA and the Decision to try it at Your Library
An overview of form-based RA—its history, benefits and implications for staff and readers—as well as a discussion of how to propose this service to library leadershipProjects and Readings:

Read “Promotion,” Chapter 6 of Joyce Saricks’s "Readers’ Advisory Service in the Public Library"

Learning Objectives:

Identify methods of organizing the service, including assigning surveys and communicating with team members and readers

List ways in which libraries may market a form-based RA service

Week 6: Tricky Issues and Questions
A wrap up of previous weeks’ topics as well as a Q & A dealing with some tricky situations you may encounter

Learning Objectives:

Consider a variety of special situations and issues that may arise when offering a form-based RA service

About the Instructors

Rebecca Howard worked as a copywriter for an ad agency and wrote grants for a local HIV/AIDS social service agency before going back to graduate school. In 2003, she began working at the Tulsa City-County Library for the Adult Literacy Service and completed a master’s in Human Relations followed by a master’s in Library and Information Studies. While in the Literacy department, she started book discussion and creative writing groups for adult new readers, developed a writing curriculum for adult learners, contributed to statewide training modules for volunteer literacy tutors and participated in a national “promising practices” project on nonprofit management and accountability. As a readers’ librarian, she coordinates “Your Next Great Read,” is a regular contributor to the blog Reading Addict and develops and supports Readers’ Library programming. An ALA member, she also belongs to the Social Responsibilities Roundtable and the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Roundtable.

Laura Raphael is an associate librarian with the Tulsa City-County Library (TCCL) with more than 10 years' public library experience. She has written for Library Journal, Public Libraries, Marketing Library Services, and American Libraries. In 2011, she received the Community Leadership Award from the Oklahoma Humanities Council for co-creating and coordinating “Novel Talk: Smart conversations for serious readers,” a series of literature-based programs for TCCL.

Registration for this ALA Editions facilitated eCourse, which begins on November 4, can be purchased at the ALA Store. Participants in this course will need regular access to a computer with an internet connection for online message board participation, viewing online video, listening to streaming audio (MP3 files), and downloading and viewing PDF and PowerPoint files.

ALA Editions publishes resources used worldwide by tens of thousands of library and information professionals to improve programs, build on best practices, develop leadership, and for personal professional development. ALA authors and developers are leaders in their fields, and their content is published in a growing range of print and electronic formats. Contact ALA Editions at (800) 545-2433 ext. 5418 or editionscoursehelp@ala.org.